Apparatus for treating coated textile fabrics.



A. SYDBMAN @L J. MEADE.

APPARATUS POR TREATING COATED TEXTILE FABRICS.

APPLIGATIYUN FILED MAR.13, 1906.

4&563. Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. SYDEMAN & J. MEADE. -l vAPPARATUS PoR TREATING COATED TEXTILE FABRICS.

APPLICATION IILED`MAR. 13. 1906.

940,563. Patented N0v.161909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EBM/m47 (7.7 w3:

i vented an Y lm prove Treat-ine' Coated narran saliti@ ABRAHAM SYDEMAN AND JAMES MEADE, OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FR TREATING COATED TEXTILE FABRCS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rate-mee. new ic, ieee.

Application led March 13, 1906. Serial No. 305,905.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known `that we', ABRAHAM SYDEMAN and JAMES Mmes, citizens of the United States, and residents of Stoughton, county of Norfolk, State of lli ihusctts, have inin Apparatus for le Fabrics, of which the following description, in connection With the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings repreA` senting like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus, or macbii'ie, for placing adhesive coated fabric in suitable condition for application to leather or other material, such as is used in the manufacture oi inner soles for shoes.

The apparatus is particularly designed for treating that class of adhesive coated fabrics in which the coating has its tacky or sticky qualities due to the presence of gutta percha, or rubber gums used in the rubber coating trade for producing adhesive coating. In this class of adhesive coated fabrics the coating` is normally dry and nonadhesivc, so that the fabric can be rolled up' Without sticking' together and can be held Without diliiculty. This adhesive coated fabric is. employed in the 'manufacture of inner soles for slices where a comparativelyV has tivo functions, viz., to render the textile portion of the adhesive'coated fabric very pliable, so that if in some cases the saine is somewhat stiff in ,its normal state, the same is temporarily made pliable; and, viz., to temper the coating,` of the fabric, such tenipering- 4having` no objectionable effect upon the coating so far as concerns its adhesion to the base of the inner sole, or other material, but Ithe n'ioistening prevents the coated face from sticking to the fingers of the operative. or to machines subsequently employed.` The heat applied after theinoisteninfr softens the ladhesive ,coat-ing so that it will. readily adhere to the base of the inner sole, or other material to Which it is applied,

and maintains this tacky or sticky condition for a sufficient time to enable it to be thus applied. Any superfluous moisture on the fabric is also removed by the heat as the moistened fabric travels through the apparatus. As a result, when the adhesive coated fabric emerges from the apparatus of this invention the fabric portion is in flexible or pliable condition, the coating is properly softened, and is tempered salticiently to prevent undue stickiness. These results are secured by an apparatus, the preferred form of which comprises, a support for a roll of theadhesive coated fabric positioned beneath the Work-table 'Where the fabric is to be applied to the inner sole or Vother.nlaterial'fa reservoir of heated Water in lower position, means for guiding` the strip of fabric from the roll into the reservoir of Water, a rotatable guide mounted to travel through the reservoir, an inclined, metallic chest or heater extending' from a point adjacent the rotatable guide to a point adjacent the Work-table so that the roll of fabric will be deflected by the rotatable guide onto the inclined chest with its adhesive side upward and after traversing the chest Will arrive at the Work-table, and means for supplying steamto the interior of the chest, and means for conducting the exhaust steam from the chest to the reservoir to heat the water therein. Preferably, the chest, reservoir, and rotatable guide are inclosed in a suitable casing.

The various novel features of our invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following` claims.

Figure l is a sideelevation and partial vsection of an apparatus for treating coated fabric, cmbmlyingr one form of our present invention; Fig. E2 is a top plan View thereof,v

The upper end of the casing' is provided' with slit-like apertures ,6, 7, Fig. 3, for the A bracket 9 depending from the upper end of the casing, Figs. 1 and 3, is adapted to support the journal 10 of the roll of coated fabric which is to be treated, said roll being indicated at 11, the web 12 passing upward from the roll and over a guide-roll 13 into the casing through the rinlet 6. The roll of adhesive coated fabric is thus supported beneath the work-table in a convenient position and out of the way of the operative.

A platel secured to the upper end of the casing has ears 15 in which the journals of roll 13 are mounted, and a second pair of ears 1G support the shaft of .a sprocket 17, its shaft being bent tovform a crank handle 18, the diameter of the sprocket being such that the upper and lower runsvof a sprocket chain l9run easily through the apertures 7 and G respectively, vthe chain forming an endless carrier and traversing the casing 1 near one side wall thereof. The chain has an attached prong or hook 20, see Fig. 1, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Within the casing we have mounted an elongated metallic chest or heater containing a steam chamber 21, the top and bottom being separated from the top and bottom of the `casing by parallel flanges or guides 22, 23, which are in practice continuations of the sidesof the chest, as clearly shown in Figsqll and 5, the external width of thel that preferably the chest fits snugly into the casing. Said chest does not extend to the lower end of the casing, howevenbut terminates at about the free edge of the `lid 2,

see Fig. l, the low'er end of the chest vbeing concaved at 24 and having its sides extended at 25 and slotted at 26 to form bearings for vthe journals of aroll or drum 27 forming a rotatable guide, a portion of the periphery litti'nginto the concave end 24:. of the chest.

A sprocket 28 is mounted on one of the journals of the guide-roll at one end thereof,

vsee Fiff. 2 over which s rocket asses the v` sprocket chain 19, so that by turning the handle 18 the chain or carrier 19 can be made to travel in the casing, `said carrier in practice traveling adjacent the inner Vfaces of one of the Iguides 22and the correspondandup over and around the rotatable guide 27, and thence onto the top of the chest between the guides 22, the uncoated face of the fabric traveling upon the top of the chest. The fabric upon reaching the lower end of the casing passes through the reser- Voir of water at the lower end of the casing, whereby the fabric portion is rendered pliable and the coating is properly tempered.- The 4rotatable guide turns with the lower portion of its periphery in this reservoir so that the fabric is guided directly from the. 'reservoir by the rotatable guide I)nto the top 4 of the chest or heater. The latter is heated to a sufficiently high temperature to soften the outer or exposed coated face of the fabric, and the heating medium herein employed is steam, introduced into the cham,n ber near its upper end by an inlet pipe 29, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, from any suitable source of supply. The fabric is drawn through the casing and out onto the work table as it is needed, the coated face uppermost, the fabric having been rendered pliable by the water and the coating having been rendered soft and tacky by thel heat, it being manifest that the extensive path traversed by the fabric in the casing gives ample opportunity for a thorough softening of the coating. The chest or heater extends in an inclined direction upwardly from the rotatable guide to a position adjacent the worktable so that the adhesive coated fabric in passing over thel steam chest in being heated is directed in its travel by the Ichest to a position on the work-table where it is to vbe used.A Thus, the travel of the fabric4 to secure the necessary treatment is at the same time utilized for presenting it atv the desiredposition for use upon the work1table. 105 As'the fabric is withdrawn from the casing` upon the work-table the inner soles or other articles to be reinforced are pressed down upon the coated face of the fabric and firmly so far as concerns its adhesive action onthe article to be reinforced.

The moist-nre for rendering the "fabricpliable and'tenipering the coating is sup'- plied by the water in the reservoir formed in the lower end of the. casing in the embodiment of the invention illustrated. The

water'of condensation. from the steam chest is herein made use of. A--pipe 30 leads from the lower end thereof at one side into ,the

casing, adjacent the bottom thereof in the 13.0

space beyond the rotatable guide 27, and is turned transversely across the casing at 31, Fig. 2, andis provided with a series of ne pcrforations 32, through which thewaterl of condensation passes from the chamber into the lower end of thecasing. This water collects in suliicient quantity, as shown in Figzl, to Contact with the fabric as it passes from the bottom of the chest or heater onto and up around the rotatable guide 27, so that the fabric is moistened and the already softened coating tempered. Any snpcriuous moisture on the fabric is removed by the heat as the moistened fabric travels along the top of the inclined chest to the outlet 7, and as the fabric emerges the coating is properly softened while tempered sufficiently to prevent undue sticlriness.

ln order to maintain the water at the proper level in the reservoir formed in the lower end of the casing the outlet pipe is turned up at 33, to the heightdesired for the water level, and then carried outv through the side of the casing, at 34, Fig. 2.

It will be obvious that the water will rise in.

the upturned portion 33 of the pipe to the same level as the main body of Water in the casing, and as the level rises by accession of water from the. chamber it will How out through the` extension 34. Consequently a constant level.. is maintained in the reservoir,

and at the same time the condensate from the heating chamber is vented, forming a proper outlet therefor and maintaining it at the desired temperature.

As the casing is entirely closed except for the slit-like apertures 6 and 7 there is practically no escape of steam or vapor into the room in which they apparatus is used, and the operation thereof is conducted Without discomfort' and with great convenience to the operator. i

The cover 2 can be opened at' any time if lany disarrangement occurs, or if the openings 32 should become clogged. Y

A valve is vprovided at 35, Fig. 1, operated by 'a handle 3 6- outside the casing, Fig. 2, to regulate the flow from the chamber.

When it is desired to introduce a new strip of fabric into the vcasing the endless carrier 19 is used, the hook 20 thereon being thrust into the leading` end of the strip .of fabric, at one edge. The handle 18 vthen turned and the sprocket 17 is revolved,

causing the carrier to traverse the casing, taking the fabricwith it and iinallybringing its end out-'through the aperture 7 after which the hook is withdrawn, the carrier thereafter being out of action till another strip must be introduced. .Of course the leading end of a fresh strip may be pinned or temporarily-attached to the end of a strip i nearly used, if desired, and in such case the carrier is not used. By having the carrier, however, lthe long casing may have a perma.

nent cover for the greater part of its length, so that it is readily kept tight.

Instead of tempering the softened coating by the means described apipe 37, Figgfl, may be let in through the casing and tended beneath the chamber, as shown in Fig. 4, said pipe having perforations 38 for the discharge of a spray of water lor wet steamupon the fabric l2 as it passes thereunder, but this form will have little or no'effect upon the fabric itself to meisten it and render it pliable unless the water reservoir, which is shown in Fig. 1, be also employed. ln Fig. 5 we have shown a branched pipe 3S), the branches -10 having perforations 41,' and in this case the fabric passes between the branches, so that the moistening medium is directed through both sets of perforations. When the form shown in Fig. 4i isused it is preferable toemploy wet steam as the mois tening or tempering medium, in order that the coatedM face maybe thoroughly moistened, but with the modification shown in Fig. 5 either wet steam or water can be used. l Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is':-.

l. An apparatus for treating adhesive coated fabric comprising, a worlr-table, a support for a lroll of fabric beneath the work-table, a water reservoir below said support, a rotatable guidemountedabove the reservoir with its periphery passing there' through, a hollow steainchest extending from said rotatable guide in an inclined direetionfto a position adjacent 'said worktable, means for supplying steam to said chest, and means for conducting the exhaust steam from the chest to the reservoir.

2. An apparatus for treating adhesive coatedfabric adapted .to be placed beneath a work-tablel and comprising', a supportfor -aroll of fabric, awater reservoir below said. support, a rotatable guide mounted abovethe reservoir with its periphery passing" therethrough, and an inclined heater leX- f tending from adjacent the said rotatable guide to a position adjacent the werdet-able, whereby the coated fabric after passing from the roll through the reservoir will be deflected by the5 rotatable guide onto the heater and will be guided byl the heater upwardly to the work table and lwill pass directly from the heater to the work-table.

3. An apparatus for treating adhesive coated fabric, comprising, a work-table, a

-support for a .roll of fabric beneath the work-table, a water reservoir belowlsaid support, a' rotatable guide mounted above thev reservoir with its peri hery passing therethrough, means for gui ing the fabric' from the -roll on the support to the reservoir, a hollow steam chest extending from `adjacent said rotatable. guide to A a 'posit-ion adjacent the \\'orl;-table, means for supplyingv `steam to said chest, and inf-ans for conducting tbe exhaust steunt front the Chest to the reservoir.

il. ln apparatus of the class described, an elongated casing apcrtured at one end for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated heater Within the casing the fabric passing along the bottom, around one end, and over the top of the heater, with its coated face out-turned, means to raise the tei'nperature of the heater to .soften the coating, and means within the casing to meisten the fabric before it emerges from the casing to temper the softened coating.

ln apparatus of the class described, a casing apertui'ed for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, a metallic heater within the casing and around Which the fabric passes Withits coated face-exposed, means to introduce steam into said heater, to raise the ten'iperature thereof, and means to temper the coating of 'the fabric by the Water of condensation collecting in the casing. l

6. in apparatus of the class described, a casing apertured for the entrance and exit ofthe fabric to be treated, an elongated, metallic chest having a closed chamber Within the casing and'around which the fabric passes with its coated face expose-d, means to introduce steam into said chamber to heat. the chest and thereby soften the coating of the fabric, means to direct the cons densed vsteam from the chamberv onto the fabric to meisten the same, and an outlet for such condensate from the casing.

T. ln apparatus of the class described, a casing apertured for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated, metallic chest having a closed chamber within the casing and around Which the fabric passes with its coated face exposed, means to introduce steam into Isaid chamber to heat the chest and thereby soften the coating of the fabric, and a pipe leading from the bot toni of tlnI chamber' into the casing and thence from the latter, said pipe being extended across the casing atl a predetermined height and having perfor-ations through which water of condensation passes from the chandail' to the casing, to meisten the fabric as it passes therethrough.

fa'. Ain apparatus of the class described, an elongated easing apcrtured at one end for the entraiice and exit of the fabric to be treated, said casing being inclined longitudinally, a metallic chest having a closed cham' ber 'within the casinfl, having longitudinal Aguides at top and bottom to direct the fabric it passes around the chest With its coated face exposed, a' guide-roll for the fabric, at the lower end of the chest, means to introduce steam to the chamber to heat thechest and thereby soften the coating, and means to discharge water of condensation from the 'chamber into the lower end of the casing, to meisten thc fabric, and temper the softened coating thereof as the fabric passes' therethrough.

t). ln apparatus of the class described, an elongated casing apertured at one end for the entrance and exit of 'the fabric to be treated, said casing being inclined longitudinally, a-inetallic chest having a closed chamber within the casing, having longitudinal guides at top and bottom to direct the fabric as it passes around the chest with its coated face exposed, a guide-roll for the fabric, at the lower end of the chamber, means to introduce steam to the chamber to heat the chest. and thereby soften the coating, means to discharge water of condensation from the chamber into the loiver end of the casing, to meisten the fabric as it passes therethrough, and means to vent such Water from the 'casing while maintaining a constant level therein.,

it). In apparatus of the class described, an elongated casing apertured at one end for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated, heated chest Within the casing, means to guide the fabric along the bottom andaround one end of said chest and back along its top, to soften the coating, and means te engage the leading end ofa strip of the fabric and traverse it around the chest to the exit opening` in the casing.

1l. In apparatus of the class described, an elongated casing apertured at one end for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated, heated chestvwithin the. casing, means to guide the fabric along the. bottom and around one end of said chest and back along its top, to soften the coating, an endless carrier movable around the chest and provided with ay hook, and means to operate said carrier, the lower and upper runs thereof traversing -the entrance and exit openii'igs in the casing, respectively, the leading end of the strip of fabric when engaged b v the hook traversing'the casilig to position the fabric around the chest.

l2. ln apparatus of the class described, an elongated closed casing a pertured at one end for the entrance and Aexit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated chest Within the casing and elevated above. the bottoni thereof, the fabric with its coated face exposed passing longitudinally around the chest, a rotatable guide at the farther end thereof to direct the fabric from the bottoni to the top of the chestgmeans to heat the chest to soften thc coated face of the fabric, and means to apply moisture to the fabric before itreaches the'top ofthe chest, whereby said fabric coating is tempered and surplus moisture elimi- .nated as the fabric traverses the top of the chest.

ies

' 13. In apparatus of the class described, an elongated closed casing apertured at one end i for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated chest Within the casing and elevated above the bottom thereof, the ventering fabric passing along the'bottom of the chest with its coated face exposed and returning over the top of the chest to the exit aperture, a rotatable guide at the farther end of the chest, to direct the fabric from the bottom to the top thereof, the coated face being softened Aby the h'eat of the chest, means to heatthe latter by introducing steam thereinto, and means to cause water of condensation from the chest to contact with and meisten the fabric beforeit reaches the top of the chest on its way to the exit aperture.

ist. In apparatus of the class described, an elongated closed casing apertured at one end for the entrance .and exit of the fabric to be treated,l an elongated chest Within the casing the fabric passes.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a work-table, an inclined, closed, elongated casing with its upper end adjacent the Work support and its lowerend,` formed into a water reservoir,'the said casing being apertured at its upper end for'the entrance and exit of 4a strip of adhesive coated fabric, means within' the casing to guide thes fabric from the entrance end through the reservoir, whereby the fabric is moistened and tempered, an elongated heater within the casing extending from the reservoir substantially to the exit aperture for heating and rendering adhesive the coating of vthe fabric as it passes from the reservoir to the exit aperture.

; 16. In apparatus of the class described, an

inclined, elongated casing, apertured at'the upper end for the entrance and exit of the fabric to be treated, an elongated heater. Within the casing havin one end adjacent the said apertures and tie lower end ad'acent the lower end of the casing, means or i heating the heater internally, and means for supplying water to the lower end of the casing beneath the heater, whereby the fabric in its travel through the casing passes through the water and then over the heater to the exit. i

aperture.

17. An apparatus for Atreating adhesive I coated fabric adapted to be placed beneath a work-table and comprising, a Water reservoir, a rotatable guide mounted above the reservoir with its periphery passing therethrough, a hollow steam chest extending from adjacent said rotatable guide in an inclined direction to a position adjacent said work-table, and means for guiding the fabric into the reservoir, the said rotatable guide directing the fabric onto the steam chest and the steam chest during the heating of the fabric guiding it into a position for utilization upon the Work-table. j

l 18. An apparatus for treating adhesive coated fabric adapted to be placed beneath a work-table and comprising, a Water reservoir, a rotatable guide mounted above the reservoir with its periphery passing therethrough, a hollow steam chest extending from adjacent said rotatable guide in an inclined direction, to a position adjacent said Work-table, means for guiding the fabric into the reservoir, the said rotatable guide l directing the fabric onto the steam chest and the steam chest during the heating of the fabric guiding it into a position for utilization upon the work-table, and means for supplying steam to said chest and means for conducting the exhaust steam from the chest to the reservoir.

In testimonywhereof, We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ABRAHAM SYDEMAN.

JAMES MEADE. Witnesses:

JOHN C. EDWARDS, MARGARET A. DUNN. 

